If you find mistakes, pls tell, thx. I don't like mistakes.

Also feel free to ask for more background information on the world. I am somehow running out of interesting points regarding the small comments at the beginning of the chapters.

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“

First node connection: Sol - Antares

”

-Project report 25-26533

***Antares, Asteroid Habitat***

***Ilin Kleio***

“It's so huge. How did they build something like this. It's fourteen? Fifteen clicks in diameter?” I admire the city which appeared out of nowhere just a few hours ago. The disc-shaped platform is settled with a real city. It looks like the mages simply cut one of their cities out of a planet's surface and lifted it to space. A transparent dome in the shape of a diamond covers the entire settled area. I wonder why they didn't settle the other side of the disc too?

Then there are the four tubular structures which are accompanying Aether. Immediately after their arrival they began to produce parts for something much bigger. “I want to go over there.”

This is the chance I've been waiting for, but our diplomats are such incompetent idiots and the aliens obviously aren't trusting us for whatever reason. First they denied us access to their systems. Then they refused to trade.

And now I've one of their settlements directly in front of me and all I can do is watching it from afar with a telescope. “It's like they are taunting me. Normally they cloak everything they have, but this one they show us openly. They are dangling the treat in front of me, but just out of reach.”

“They are hiding something.” Ayo muses at my side. “Their diplomats are very good in diverting your people's attention. They openly show you this city and the fleet which is accompanying it, but at the same time they have something else behind their backs.”

I turn to look at the Zeen. “How so?”

Ayo gestures at the four structures. “They are building something huge. But where are the materials for it coming from? It seems like they are teleporting them from somewhere else.”

I shrug, not understanding him. “That seems to be within their capabilities. The only thing that really worries us is that they are arming the new structure to the teeth.”

“They could have built it somewhere else if they wanted to use it against the Forlorn. There is no sense in building it here where you can see and easily reach it.” Ayo answers. “It's nonetheless a provocation that they are intending to put your people in face of of finished results. I want to know what they are up to.”

***Antares, Aether***

***Gideon***

“We are intending to invest the time and resources to create a single transportation route from Sol to the centre of the galaxy.” Paul explains.

I tilt my head, not understanding the strategy behind it. “Didn't you mention that you want to take over all the strategically important places?”

“Yes, of course. But a project of this scale has certain risks involved. It's important for us to have a fast way to travel to the centre. But everything else is just useless expenditure at the moment. Of course we'll connect important systems when the chance arises, but that will only be out of opportunity.” The leader of StarDrive gestures at the map of the galaxy which is displayed above my office table.

“This project is like building the first railway. We'll invest in the transportation line which we need and everyone else can take a look at it and test it.” Paul's expression turns into a grin and he rubs his fingers. “Everyone else who wants to be connected to the network has to pay.”

I nod in understanding. “So you want them to pay for their nodes. The Forlorn are just lucky to get one for free since we need it too. But why do you don't want to tell them before the complete installation is in place?”

“We don't even know if it works. This is a prototype. Why should we jump into the cold water if we don't have to? It's the first rule of business to not talk about unfinished projects.” Paul spreads out his hands. “Once we are connected to the node back in Sol and have teleported a few ships we can tell them.”

I nod slowly, understanding his point. “I see where you are coming from, though the technology seems solid. Even though we've just scaled up the product. There is nothing new about what we are doing. But I guess it's better to be safe than looking stupid later on.”

Our relationship with the aliens is still based on the fact that we have some capabilities which they lack. It's important to demonstrate that we are the ones who are in a position of strength.

That is the reason why the elders aren't willing to let the Forlorn anywhere near Sol. If they find out that our species is currently restricted to a single star system they might get stupid ideas. Well, maybe not the Forlorn themselves but the Zeen or any of the others out there.

“Right.” Paul stands up and corrects his attire. “If you excuse me then? I've a lot of things to do and places to be. No rest for the manager.”

I wish him goodbye and we shake hands, then Paul retreats and leaves me alone in my office.

Without any further visitors who need my attention I decide to do some administration. The crew for the fleet of a hundred ships and fifty battle stations need a regular schedule to take a little time off. That's the main reason why Aether is coming along for the trip. There is no mage who would willingly go on a mission for over a year without having some place to relax.

Pilots are a little more hardened in that regard, but we've a whole bunch of diplomats and scientists along for the ride.

My work is interrupted by an unexpected call from Sadina. I ponder for several moments if I should take the call. How did she manage to encode a secure connection when we aren't in Sol? Deciding that I'll never find out if I don't talk to her I answer. “Yes.”

Sadina's Avatar appears in front of me. “Congratulations! To you marriage and to your new ability!”

“You are late.” I answer with a dry voice.

“Aw! So sorry. I thought it would be good to give you a little privacy. And it wasn't easy to set up a safe communication through the node network. With Aether so far away from Sol only the biggest quantum computers can create reliable connections.” She purses her lips. “It was actually quite complicated to find a way to hide my tracks. But it's worth the effort. One year! To think I could go one year without talking to my only son. Unthinkable!”

I wouldn't have a problem with that. “So why are you calling?”

“I just wanted to ask, how is it?” She places both her hands in a praying gesture.

I can't help but raise an eyebrow. “How is what?”

“Being pure energy. Becoming one with the machine in mind and body.” She starts hopping up and down. “Have you tried again since then? I tell you, it was one hell of a problem to encode that ability in your gene pattern. I honestly wasn't sure if you would simply go up in a nuclear explosion.”

I stare for several moments at the being which I should call my mother. Then I shake my head. “I didn't find that state to be very comfortable and the lack of energy in the environment made me revert back rather fast.”

Sadina drops her hands in disappointment. “I had hoped it would be an enlightening moment. All my research and efforts were aimed at a higher form of techno-magic.”

It was indeed very pleasurable and I felt very powerful, but I certainly don't want to spend my life as a disembodied energy being. After I had time to think about it I am of the opinion that, by somehow returning automatically to my physical form, I used up all my luck for the next century.

Sadina recovers on her own. “Well, no matter. The main project is still on track and manipulating the media worked perfectly fine.”

I feel my left eyelid starting to twitch. “Manipulating the media?” What the hell did she do?

“Yes, you have no idea how hard it was to talk certain announcers into saying the correct things. I even had to take down channel one for a few minutes, just to stop them from representing you in a false light.” She shrugs. “But after having their bank accounts scrubbed clean they were very cooperative.”

How did she do that? There wasn't even a word in the... oooh. It would be stupid to assume that the media would announce anything about being controlled by a mad techno-mage. 'Stupid be they would', as Yoda would say.

“I am beginning to see you as more than a slight threat to me. Why aren't the elders and the faceless all over you.” I grumble.

Sadina makes a dismissive gesture with her hand. “They are always trying, but their efforts are wasted. If there is something I am good at then it's hiding my tracks in the network. Even that old fart Sanguin isn't able to trace me and he has full access to the main frame. Imagine what would happen if I ever got access to that much computational power. All the things I could do.”

Imagine what I could do if I ever got that much access. I would surely be able to triangulate your position and then... “Then let's be happy that you don't have that level of access.” Maybe I should really try to become an elder. I wonder what I've to say in order to pass the personality test. I doubt that my knowledge is an issue, so I highly suspect that the problem lies with my personality.

“What are you thinking about the aliens? I suppose you've informed yourself about this new variable in your games?” I ask in a sudden burst of interest.

Sadina shrugs, not dropping her smile. “Some idiotic bird-brains who are playing games with each other. Their current game is throwing a hot potato from one participant to the next, it's just a question who gets burned first.”

I narrow my eyes. “And who is the hot potato?”

Sadina starts grinning. “Us, of course. The only question for us is: How can the potato prevent being thrown?” Her avatar flickers and then she looks aside, something else drawing her attention. “Unfortunately I've to go. See you later!”

Her avatar flickers out of existence and leaves me alone inside my office. I sigh and lean back in my chair. A hot potato she said.

How did she even come up with that reference?

.